Melanoma and Skin Cancer News Round Up: 22/08/2014

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content within these links.

• High-Risk Melanomas Often on Head or Neck

An investigation by Australian researchers measuring the speed at with cancer cells grow may help doctors diagnose and treat the most aggressive of Melanomas. 

Source: WebMD

• Teens aren’t using sunscreen as much: Are melanoma warnings not enough?

The Tech Times takes a look at research originating from William Paterson University in New Jersey which has shown that the number of high school students using sunscreen dropped from 67.7% to 56.1% between 2001 and 2011 in the United States.

Source: Tech Times

• The skin cancer that killed Bob Marley not caused by sun, scientists say

UK scientists have found that acral melanoma - which caused the death of Bob Marley is genetically distinct from other more common types of skin cancer. Unlike other more common types of melanoma, it's not caused by excessive exposure to UV rays.

Source: Express 

• Digital surveillance, photography aided early melanoma diagnosis

A study from the University of Sydney has revealed that surveillance with total body photography and sequential digital dermoscopy imaging helped improve early detection of primary melanomas. 

Source: Healio

• Dermtech Offers A Simple Way to Detect Melanoma

An article describing a new technique of diagnosing skin cancer using adhesive tape. Developed by Dermtech, the article states that the adhesive tape can be used as an alternative to a biopsy. 

Source: NanAlyze 

• VIDEO: Advanced melanoma on brink of immunotherapy ‘revolution’

A video interview with Dr. Steven O'Day of the Beverly Hills Cancer Centre at the the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology on the latest developments in melanoma treatment options.

Source: Oncology Practice 

• Smartphones Cut Melanoma Treatment Time 

Research carried out by Swedish scientists has found that using smartphones equipped with a microscope allows physicians to photograph potential melanomas and send the results on to specialists for further assesment will help to cut treatment time.

Source: Clinical Oncology 

• Training the body to fight melanoma

A new experimental therapy claims to be able to train the body's immune system to fight skin cancer.

Source: My Sun Coast

• Pregnant 'tanorexic' is diagnosed with skin cancer after tiny blemish on her nose turns into 'rodent ulcer'

The Daily Mail has a story on a regular sun bed user who was diagnosed with melanoma.

Source: Daily Mail 

• Brits are 'ignorant' of sunburn risks, poll reveals

Worrying research from Macmillan Cancer Support as it reports that many British citizens aren't aware of the risks associated with sunburn. The study showed that 22% of Brits polled were unaware that you can get sunburn through a window.

Source: ITV 

• Higher UV radiation linked to increased prevalence of nonmelanoma skin cancers

A higher mean daily UV radiation has been linked with increased nonmelanoma skin cancer incidence rates, according to findings gathered after researchers systematically reviewed 40 peer-reviewed articles published from 1978 to 2012 that provided age and sex-specific and incidence data for non melanoma skin cancers in white populations worldwide. 

Source: Healio 

Melanoma and Skin Cancer News Round Up: 15/08/2014

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content within these links.

• Expert’s Corner: How zebrafish are helping to unlock melanoma genetics

A video on how researchers are using Zebrahfish to study melanoma skin cancer. The researchers from the University of Massachusetts are using the fish to identify genes responsible for melanoma , with the hope of identifying new targets for potential treatments.

Source: University of Massachusetts Medical School

• Multispectral digital skin lesion analysis reduces unnecessary biopsies for melanoma

A multispectral digital device could help to analyse patients pigmented skin lesions and may assist in reducing the number of unnecessary skin biopsies according to the American Academy of Dermatology Summer Meeting. 

Source: Healio 

• Immune Cell Discovery Could Help to Halt Cancer Spread

The Bio Science site reports that Melbourne researchers have revealed the importance of highly specialized immune cells, called natural killer cells, in killing melanoma cells that have spread to the lungs. The cells could be harnessed to hunt down and destroy cancers that have spread through the body.

Source: Bio Science 

• Handheld photoacoustic microscopy device could enable deeper melanoma imaging

Washington University researchers based in St.Louis have developed a handheld photoacoustic microscopy device that can be used directly on patients and accurately measure how deep a melanoma tumour extends into the skin, providing valuable information for treatment, diagnosis and prevention.

Source: Bio Optics World 

• New Melanomas Likely to Recur at Same Rate

A 40 year retrospective review has showed that a diagnosis of in-situ or invasive melanoma conferred a similar long-term risk of invasive melanoma recurrence. 

Source: Med Page Today 

• 'I lost my eye to skin cancer because cheap holiday sunglasses gave me no protection'

The 'Daily Mirror' has a personal story about how fake sunglasses without adequate UV protection led to a British woman being diagnosed with melanoma behind her right eye.

Source: Mirror 

• Does Skin Cancer Itch?

A Q&A with New York Dermatologist Janet Prystowsky on a study originating from Temple University School of Medicine that reports that 37% of skin cancer lesions are accompanied by itching. 

Source: Allure 

• Treating Sunburn

A number of articles on treating sunburn. You should always remember that prevention is the best treatment.

Source: Mens Journal/Vogue/Daily Star 

Melanoma and Skin Cancer News Round Up: 08/08/14

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content within these links.

• Photoacoustic device aids management of melanomas

Researchers working out of  Washington University in St.Louis in the United States have developed a new piece of hand held technology which utilises lasers and sound waves to help doctors diagnose melanoma skin cancer.

Source: The Engineer

• Specific genetic defect may increase melanoma susceptibility

A study that has come out of the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Centre published in 'Molecular Cell' has shown that a genetic defect in a specific hormonal pathway may make people more susceptible to developing melanoma.

Source: Oncology Advisor

• Surgical treatment for metastatic melanoma of the liver increases overall survival

New research from the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California has revealed that surgical treatment metastatic melanoma of the liver increases overall survival. These results show a departure from the previous thought that melanoma is often considered fatal once it has spread to the liver.

Source: Oncology Advisor

• Generation of tanners see spike in deadly melanoma

The acting US Surgeon general has delivered a start warning to Americans as it was reported that there has been a jump of 200% in melanoma cases since 1973. The surgeon general urged those residing in the United States to stop sunbathing and using indoor tanning beds.

Source: Desert Sun

• Too much sun? This £1 wristband will tell you...Bracelet could help prevent skin cancer

The Smartsun band changes colour when exposed to damaging UV levels and could help users tell when they've had enough. If your interested in the bands please get in touch with us at info@masscot.org.uk and we can provide you with more details on them and a cost.

Source: Express

• E-jewellery to prevent sunburn

A new piece of technology which works with iOS devices such as iphone's and ipad's has been created by Netatmo. It's a small jewel shaped sensor which pairs with your devices and reads the UV index and provides advice as to what you should be wearing to ensure your protected during the day.

Source: The Hindu 

Melanoma and Skin Cancer News Round Up: 01/08/14

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content within these links.

• Piggybacking cells hold clue to cancer growth – and treatment for melanoma

Discovery of how fast growing tumour cells hitch ride on invasive cells could help create a new drug to tackle skin cancer

Source: The Guardian

• Melanoma diagnosed decades later often linked to childhood sun damage

Damage caused by ultraviolet rays during childhood – both indoors and outdoors – elevates the risk for developing melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer, during adulthood.

Source: Spokesman

• 10 Things You Didn't Know Were Happening While You Were Lying out

So, what is actually happening when you sit in the sun? Dr. Day tells Cosmopolitan.com

Source: Cosmopolitan

• Health experts warn sunburn in young children can put them at risk of skin cancer later in life

VIVIENNE Wilson, lead nurse at the Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, warned that parents need to be aware of the hidden dangers of overexposure to harmful rays.

Source: Daily Record

• NICE backs 2 new cancer treatments

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance recommending a new prostate cancer drug and extending the use of another for skin cancer

Source: WedMD

• Prickly, itchy skin lesions could spell skin cancer

Painful or itchy skin lesions could be a warning sign of skin cancer, researchers report.

Source: Healthy 24

• 'Tanned skin is damaged skin': Surgeon general warns sun-loving Americans after 200% spike indeadly melanoma

The acting U.S. surgeon general warned in a report released Tuesday that cites an alarming 200 per cent jump in deadly melanoma cases since 1973. The report blames a generation of sun worshiping for the $8billion spent to treat all forms of skin cancer each year.

Source: Daily Mail 

• Parents don't protect themselves from skin cancer because they're prioritising their children's skin

A YouGov survey found that 92% of adults make sure their children are protected from the sun before their own. 80% of parents also admit to getting sunburned in the UK- increasing their risk of skin cancer.

Source: Health Canal